Andrew b



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen 1.A

F. WARREN.

I B'y l Arron/GM- n 4(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.l A

, P. WARREN. APPARATUSFGR SIGNALING VEHICLES BY NUMBERS- No. 546,499. Patented sept. 17,1895.

INVENTOH.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FRANK-WARREN, on .NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR SIGNALING VHICLES BY NUMBERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,499, dated September 1'7, 1895.

Application filed January 15, 1895. Serial No. 534,975. ,(No model.) *i

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRANK WARREN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Signal-v in g Vehicles by Numbers, of which the follow- 1ng is a specication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relatesfto apparatus for call? electrically displayed, and whereby such 'nu m-y ber will be exhibited to all 'the drivers or coachmen waiting, who will, upon seeing lthe either permanent or temporarily provided number of their Vehicles displayed, immediately draw up before the exit, or if the numbers are displayed in rapid rotation take their' places in proper order upon a line.

The invention consists in the novel con-1 struction and arrangement of parts, whereby the above-mentioned and other desirable re` sults are attained and hereinafter more fullydescribed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure lis a front elevation of a device embodying my in! vention secured to the wall of a building to be conspicuously displayed therefrom. Fig. 2'is a yertical section thereof upon the line 0c Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the electri-i calv circuits and switches'for operating the device. Y A

In the practice of my invention I secure to a suitable support or beam A, projecting from the Vwall of the building A', a sign-board or' box B, divided by longitudinal horizontal par` titions a and vertical partitions a into three Series of ten compartments b with a continu` ous longitudinal compartment batthe top. Upon each side of the box are secured doors C, hinged at one end, having in thev top thereof, aligning with the upper compartment h', continuous longitudinal strips or panesofglass c, the remainder of said doorsbeneath the panes c being divided by longitudinal strips d aligning with the partitions aand by intermediate vertical strips d aligning with the partitions a to form a framework comprising a plurality of hollow squares, in which are inserted three longitudinal series of glass panes c c2 c3, each series being denitely coloredusually the series c red, the, series'c2 white, and the series o3 blue-'said series comprising each ten panes corresponding to the compartments b. Upon the upper strips c are marked the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and O, in alignment with or immediately above the panes of each series.

Within each of the' three series of lower compartments b are suspended, from the partitions a, ten incandescent lamps ve, opposite each of the colored panes. Similar lampse of any desired number are suspended from the roof of the boxin the upper compartmentb to illuminate the panes c, through the whole of which the light constantly shines throughout the operation.

Within the building/l mount in some convenient position a switchboard D, having thereon three longitudinal series of switches DD2 D3, corresponding in number and p0- sition to the series of panes c c2 c3, and connecting by means of the independent wires F/E2 E3 with the respective lamps c in the compartments opposite the panes with which -each switch registers in position and series.

Return-wires E lead from all of said lamps to a branch F, connecting with the dynamo G, from which extends oppositely a feeder F', connectingfby wires F2 with all the various switches, thereby completing the circuit.

An auxiliary branch or feeder F3 extends from the feeder F 'tothe various lamps e in theupper compartmentb of the b ox,`of which llamps I have shown four, and a return-wire .F4 leadsfrom said lamps to the wire F, wherby said lamps are included in a constant circuit.

The switches D D2 Dwhich are actuated by handles j", are all normally closed, whereby thelamps'e are normally extinguished, and the various feed and return wires are respectively connected to said switchboard and to the dynamo or main conductor through insulatingtubes g, projecting from the sign B.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The numbers upon the pane c being constantly visible, and it being desired to display the numberof a carriage, the first numeral or figure of the number in question is displayed by illuminating the red pane c immediately beneath the counterpart of said number or figure upon the pane c, which illumination is effected by turning on the switch D registering with said pane. The second figure of said number is displayed by illuminating the white pane c'zimmediately beneath the corresponding figure upon the pane c by turning on the switch D2 registering therewith; and the third figure of the vehicle-number, if there be such, is displayed by likewise illuminating the blue pane c3 beneath said figure through the agency ofthe corresponding switch D3. The number of the carriage being, for example, 135, the red pane c beneath the figure l, the white pane c2 beneath the figure 3, and the blue pane cil beneath the figure 5 are successively illuminated. The numbers indicated by the several panes are then read by the various drivers in vertical rotation from the upper panes c downwardly, and the carriage corresponding to the numberl-which may be as with a cab the license-number, or may be determined by checks or tickets distributed to the carriages upon their first arrival at the building-then draws up before the exit, receives its passengers therein, and departs, whereupon the switches are turned off and another number similarly displayed. Not only does the vertical rotation of the tigures enable the number to be clearly and detinitely determined and read in the proper r0- tation from both sides of the sign, but, furthermore, by the coloring of the panes the varioussericsare furtherdistinguished. This is particularly the case by the use of the colors red, white, and blue, which are in this country associated in the order named, and thereby convey to the mind certainty that if the figure l is red, the figure 3 white,and the figure 5 blue the vehicle number must necessarily be 135.

The advantages resultant from the use of the invention will be manifest to all who are conversant with the general class of devices to which the same appertains.

I do not confine myself to the exact formation of parts or construction of details herein set forth and illustrated. For instance, I may, in lieu of employing the panes c, mark the numerals directly upon the panes c c2 c3, though in such case the employment of the colored panes might not be as practicable, and, furthermore, I believe the particular arrangement shown will convey at all distances from the sign the clearest impression of the numbers sought to be displayed.

I'Iaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an apparatus for signaling vehicles by numbers, a sign box suitably supported, having a continuous longitudinal compartment having transparent sides at the top thereof, and the remainder or lower portion being divided by vertical and horizontal partitions into three series of ten compartments, having transparent sides, doors hinged at one end to each side ofthe box, having in the tops thereof continuous strips of glass, aligning with the continuons compartment in the top of the box, and the remainder of said doors being divided by longitudinal and vertical strips into spaces corresponding with the three series of vertically aligning compartments, in which are inserted three series of ten glass panes, each series being definitely colored, and the upper continuous strips being provided with the numerals l, 2, 3, et, 5, G, 7, S, i), O, in alignment with or immediately above the panes of each series, a lamp in each of the compartments of each of the series, and a number of lamps in the continuous compartment, and means for lighting the various lamps in each series and in the continuous compartment, and displaying the numbers to designate the various vehicles, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an apparatus for signaling vehicles by numbers, a sign board or box, suitably supported and visible upon both sides or faces, and divided by horizontal and vertical partitions into a number of series of vertically aligning compartments, having transparent sides, and provided at the top with acontinuous longitudinal compartment, having transparent sides and numbers marked thereon, numbers on said sign so arranged that the vertically aligning compartments designate the same number, lamps in each of said compartments and in the continuous compartment, and a switch board properly located, and a number of switches corresponding in position, and individually connecting with the various lamps, whereby the action of the switches displays the various figures of the vehicle number in vertical rotation, substantially as shown and described.

3. An apparatus for signaling vehicles or the like by numbers, which comprises a sign box conspicuously displayed, having a continuous longitudinal eompartmentin the top thereof, and a number of series of ten compartments below said longitudinal compartments, numbers marked upon said sign, whereby the verticallyaligning compartments of the different series indicate the saine number, said compartments having transparent panes upon each side thereof, whereby the sign is conspicuous upon both of its faces, lamps secured within each of said compartments, a series of switches corresponding in IOO IIS

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number to and communicating individually with each of the lamps of the upper series to display the first figure of the vehicle number, and one or more similar series of switches likewise connecting with the lamps of the lower series, whereby the remaining figure or iigures of the number are displayed beneath the same, and said number is arranged in vertical rotation to be visible and corresponding upon both faces of the sign, substantially as shown and described.

4. An apparatus for signaling vehicles or the like by numbers, which comprises a sign conspicuously displayed, having a plurality of series of compartments inclosed by transparent panes visible upon both faces ot' the sign, each series being distinctively colored, lamps secured in each compartment and normally closed or shut oft, a continuous longitudinal compartment at the top of the sign provided with panes to be visible upon both sides, having numerals marked thereon above the vertically aligning compartments of each series, lamps secured within said compartment whereby the same is constantly and wholly illuminated, and a plurality of series of switches individually connecting to the various lamps of the series of compartments, whereby the actuation of the switch of one of said series will illuminate the compartment of the upper series upon the sign corresponding in position thereto, and the actuation of a switch of the remaining series will illuminate the corresponding compartment or compartments of the lower series, whereby the vehicle number is displayed by differently colored lights in vertical rotation, to be visible upon both sides of the sign, substantially as shown and described.

5. An apparatus for signaling vehicles or the like, which comprises a sign, conspicuously displayed and secured upon the outside ot' a building, consisting ot' a box divided by longitudinal and vertical partitions into three longitudinal series ot' ten compartments, each above the other, with a continuous longitudinal compartment at the top, doors hinged to each face of the sign, divided by corresponding partitions into three similar series of spaces or sections, transparent panes inserted in each of said sections, the panes of each series of compartments being correspondingly colored and distinctively from the remaining series, a continuous pane in the top of each of said doors, having numerals marked thereon above the vertically aligning panes, whereby the same are caused to designate the number above, lamps in each of the series compartments, and a plurality ofr lamps in the continuous compartment at the top whereby the same is constantly and wholly illuminated,

a switch-board secured within the building, having three longitudinal series of switches thereon corresponding in position to thelamps lin the series compartments and individually connecting therewith, whereby the actuation of a switch of the upper and lower series illuminates the corresponding lamps of the same series to display the vehicle number in vertical rotation upon the sign by illumination of the colored panes beneath the figures representing said number, substantially as shown and described.

6. An apparatus for signaling vehicles or the like by numbers, which comprises a sign conspicuously displayed upon the outside of a building, consisting of a box divided by longitudinal and vertical partitions into three series of ten compartments one above the other, and an upper continuous compartment, doors hinged to each of the faces of said sign and divided by like partitions into three series of spaces or sections, having glass panes therein, the panes of each series being correspondingly colored and distinctively from the remaining series, a continuous strip of glass at the top of each door, having nu merals'marked thereon above each compartment of the several series, whereby the vertically aligning compartments are designated by the same number, lamps secured in each of the series compartments, and a plurality oflamps inserted in the upper compartment to wholly illuminate the same, a switch-board secured within the building, three series ot switches thereon corresponding to the series compartments of the sign,individual conductors leading from said switches to thelamp corresponding in position therewith, return wires leading from allot said lamps to the dynamo, and a feeder connecting said dynamo to the switches, said switches being normally closed whereby the lamps are normally shut oit, and adapted when actuated to display the vehicle number in vertical rotation with the figures thereof in distinctive colors, and branch wires leading from the dynamo, feeder, and return conductor to the lamps of the upper continuous compartment, said branch forming a constant circuit, whereby the lamps in said upper compartment are normally lighted to wholly illuminate the said compartment, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence ot' two Witnesses, this 11th day of .Ianuary, 1895.

FRANK WARREN.

Witnesses:

PERcY T. GRIFFITH, L: MULLER.

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